Someone explain to me this!
 

Ok, I'm opinionated. Everyone knows that. So here's my latest. If you've been in the hobby for more than a few months, you should own your own test kits and not mooch off the LFS.

How is it ok to keep doing this? I know people in 10 years that still mooch off the LFS. Really??? How is this happening?

Who else has an opinion? :)

I wouldn't trust the lfs if my life depended on it. IV had bad luck with other people testing my water for me. That's my opinion

Are you trying to catch a marlin or a flounder?:mrgreen:

API all the way...:lol:

lol, not fishing, just get irked when I see this all the time. Remember my thread about the cost of reefing? I wasn't kidding. It's expensive, and one of the cheapest things in the hobby is a test kit. If you can't afford a test kit, maybe collecting hats is a better hobby. (see? opinionated :))

Opinion or fact? :biggrin:

Other than to verify the accuracy of your own test, no one should rely on the LFS to perform test for you.

Your LFS doesn't charge for testing? If not they should be.

I agree. It costs them materials and labour. They should at least recoup costs.

I usually recommend newbies have the LFS test their water for them. But yeah, after they've been in it for a few months and think they are going to stay in the hobby, then its time to get test kits to do it at home.

Once in a blue moon I'll bring my water sample in to the LFS to get it tested but that's mainly to verify my own. I also get a good friend of mine with Hanna checkers to test for certain elements because those are supposedly more accurate than the Salifert kits I use.

Anthony, yes, in the early days, or as a blue moon check up, sure. But once you're in it, you need to own your own stuff.

Maybe you should have a poll... See how many freeloaders fess up...:neutral: